Bryce Eishold
An unlicensed man riding an unregistered motorcycle has escaped without serious injury after almost colliding with another vehicle on Maryvale Road, Morwell on Tuesday.
Police said they first saw the man riding the motorcycle without a helmet through bushland behind Morwell Park Primary School.
When police activated their lights and sirens he allegedly rode off, forcing police to call off the pursuit.
Moments later the man was spotted again by police after his bike “cut out” on Maryvale Road, almost causing a collision with another vehicle, police said.
The bike was impounded under the anti-hoon legislation act.
A search of the man allegedly located about seven grams of cannabis.
He was arrested and charged with possessing cannabis, driving dangerously, evading police, unlicensed and careless driving, driving an unregistered vehicle and failure to wear a helmet.
The man was later released and will face Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court later this year.
Jeeralang Junction grass fire
Detectives have appealed for help to catch those responsible for a small grass fire on Dobbins Road at Jeeralang Junction earlier this year.
Police said the April 5 fire started about noon after grass was set alight on the side of a dirt driveway leading up to a fenced property.
According to locals, the driveway is used by numerous people who sit in their vehicles and look at the views.
“This is evident due to the number of broken bottles and cigarette butts at the location,” Latrobe Crime Investigation Unit Senior Constable Gerard Wursthorn said.
“The offenders have possibly flicked a cigarette into the grass alongside the driveway which has ignited and spread into nearby bushland.”
More than a dozen fire fighters and five tankers attended the blaze and extinguished the fire which spread through a boundary fence.
Churchill CFA incident controller Shane Renwick said the fire caused no damage to the fence or nearby property.
Anyone with information is asked to phone Latrobe Crime Investigation Unit on 5131 5000 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Traralgon brothel shut down
Police have cracked down on illegal sex workers in the Latrobe Valley following an application to the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court to have a Traralgon massage parlour declared as a proscribed brothel.
The application followed a raid on the property on July 30 where a woman was arrested and released pending summons.
A second female employee was detained at the premises by Australian Border Force officers after she was found to be in breach of her visa.
Police said that woman would be deported.
The raid on the Seymour Street Quig Chinese massage premises followed a tip off to police about illegal sex services being provided at the site.
The application to have the site declared as a proscribed brothel means people are prevented from entering the premises for six months.
In a second incident, a Traralgon motel was searched after reports to police stated the site was being used by third parties for illegal sex services.
A woman was interviewed in regards to providing sex work while a man was arrested, charged and released pending summons.
